Feast Days

Yesterday was my fifth day in Catania and my second religious holiday.  The first one was last weekend and it was the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Stores, gas stations and restaurants were closed for three days.  And last night as Offspring #1 and I drove to the airport to pick up Offspring #2, we drove at sunset.  The lights of the homes situated up the slope of Mount Etna added yellow dots to the looming volcano.  A full moon light up the sky. As we turned south toward the airport fireworks lit up the sky.  We saw a full 10 minutes of firework display.  This time the feast day was for Saint Agatha who, it turns out, was born in Catania.  The cathedral in Catania is named for her.  She is also the patron saint of breast cancer.  As part of her martyrdom her breasts were removed with pincers.  So, in her honor, they sell round dome shaped sweet bread with a cherry on top.  Honestly, I am not making this up.  If the frequency of feast days continues at this rate, I should be here for 6 of them.

Here is a photo of Saint Agatha with her body parts on a platter.